The World Outdoors: Prepare for the invasion of the finches

Winter is generally a good time to see finches, but bird prognosticators in Ontario and the eastern U.S. predict that because there was a poor seed crop to the north, finches, siskins, evening grosbeaks and red-breasted nuthatches are likely to move into Southwestern Ontario in greater numbers than usual.

Because of poor seed crops in northern Ontario, evening grosbeaks are expected to move further south than usual this winter. There have already been reports of this beautiful species in Middlesex County. (Don Taylor/Special to Postmedia News)

Winter is generally a good time to see finches, but bird prognosticators in Ontario and the eastern U.S. predict that because there was a poor seed crop to the north, finches, siskins, evening grosbeaks and red-breasted nuthatches are likely to move into Southwestern Ontario in greater numbers than usual.

Matt Young, who is with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., recently said eastern North America is “in store for our best widespread multi-finch invasion in several years.”

Ron Pittaway, whose Ontario winter finch forecast is posted online each year, has declared that this winter will be an irruptive year — a year with a sudden and temporary population increase — in the east.

“Cone and birch seed crops are poor to low in most of Ontario and the northeast (North America), with a few exceptions such as Newfoundland, which has an excellent spruce crop. It will be a quiet winter in the north woods. Expect flights of winter finches into southern Ontario.”

In particular, exceptional years are predicted for common redpoll and purple finch. Redpolls prefer birch, alder and conifer seed so they will be forced south. In southern Ontario, they will also feast at niger seed feeders that more frequently attract goldfinches.

Pine siskins will also be attracted to niger feeders. This species is similar in size and shape to our more familiar American goldfinches. The siskin however has overall brown streaking.

The prospect of seeing evening grosbeaks is perhaps the most exciting news. Again, because of poor seed crops to the north, we will have an influx of these birds.

The Cornell Lab has suggested that this species could make its best showing in this area in 20 years. Some have already been reported in Middlesex County on eBird. You might have luck attracting these pretty visitors with black-oil sunflower seed on a platform feeder.

Some non-finches will also be affected by the poor seed crops in northern Ontario. We are already seeing larger than normal numbers of blue jays and red-breasted nuthatches this season.

The best place to see an array of winter finches in Ontario is still Algonquin Provincial Park. Your next best choices however are to be attentive when you are out birding locally and to set up feeders.

The easiest option may be to check an online feedercam. Tammie Hache’s Project FeederWatch webcam in Manitouwadge, Ont., near Thunder Bay — available through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology — is excellent.

Nature notes

For more than a week, Linda Johnston graciously welcomed 650 avid birders to her Goderich home so that they could observe Ontario’s first calliope hummingbird. “It was overwhelming and exciting at the same time. I do enjoy birds myself — I have lots of feeders in my yard — but I had no idea that biologists, ornithologists, and bird watchers could be so captivated by a single rare bird,” Johnston told me. Calliope hummingbirds live in western North America.

The provincial government’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has proposed that the double-crested cormorant be listed as a game bird. An open hunting season would run from March 15 to Dec. 31 across the province. The commercial fishing industry and property owners have expressed concerns “that cormorants have been detrimental to fish populations, island forest habitats, other species and aesthetics.” Double-crested cormorant numbers dropped though the 1960s and into the 1970s due to environmental contaminants. Their numbers have rebounded very well. The public is invited to submit comments or questions until Jan. 3. Search online on “EBR registry number 013-4124” for details.

The American Bird Conservancy, American Birding Association, National Audubon Society, Texas Audubon and more than 100 other organizations expressed concern last month in an open letter to Kirstjen Nielsen, U.S. secretary of homeland security, about the impact of an expanded Mexico border wall on environmentally sensitive areas. “We are steadfastly opposed to a border wall across these parts of Texas due to the negative effects it would have on birds and other wildlife, and their habitats.” added Steve Holmer, the American Bird Conservancy’s vice-president of policy.

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